Premium tripot housing with hybrid-elliptical tracks

Abstract

A tripot housing includes a housing body that extends between a first housing end and a second housing end along a longitudinal central axis. The housing body defines a guide channel that extends from the first housing end toward the second housing end. The guide channel has a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall that extends between the first wall and the second wall. An elliptical contact surface area transitions the first wall with the third wall and the second wall with the third wall, with the elliptical contact surface areas being configured for engagement with an outer roller of a roller assembly to inhibit a locking condition.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63 / 016,191, filed Apr. 27, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Tripot joints interconnect rotary shaft members of a vehicle. The tripot joint includes a tripot housing having an inner surface providing a plurality of roller tracks for guiding a plurality of roller assemblies.[0003]Current tripot housings may allow excessive tipping of a roller assembly, and in particular, an outer roller thereof, within a roller track, with the tipping being observed along a plane extending transverse to a longitudinal axis of the tripot housing.[0004]Excessive tipping of the roller assembly, and outer roller thereof, relative to the roller track, along with lack of restoring moment of the roller assembly, may result in a locking condition of the roller assembly. A locking condition is highly undesirable, as the locking...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent is about improving a type of housing used for a specific application. The improvement is made through the use of roller tracks, which make it easier to move the housing and reduce tilting of certain parts. This results in a more stable and reliable product.

Problems solved by technology

Excessive tipping of the roller assembly, and outer roller thereof, relative to the roller track, along with lack of restoring moment of the roller assembly, may result in a locking condition of the roller assembly.

A locking condition is highly undesirable, as the locking prevents intended, low friction rolling motion of the roller assembly, and thus, premature wear and failure may result.

In addition to promoting wear, highly undesirable noise, vibration, harness (NVH) may result from a locking condition, with the NVH being highly undesirable and readily observable by a passenger in the vehicle.

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